A Timely Reminder: James 2:24 Does Not Teach Justification Before God By Works
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”— James 2:24 It’s not uncommon to hear some people appeal to James 2:24 in order to argue that God saves people by faith plus works....
View ArticleA Brief But Important Quotation By Mr Murray On Romans 2:13
Philippi’s statement is worthy of quotation: “Whether or not there are such perfect ποιηται του νομου [doers of the law] the apostle does not say in this passage, but only opposes the true standard to...
View ArticleJames Does Not Contradict Paul And Vindication Is Distinct From Justification
Why did James say "justify" if he did not mean to indicate that there is either a second way of justification (e.g., by works) or if he did not mean to signal that works somehow play some role other...
View ArticleWith The Pactum Podcast On “Do This And Live”
Pat Abendroth is a friend and pastor of Omaha Bible Church and the host of The Pactum Podcast. Pactum is a Latin noun for covenant. You might see or hear it used, e.g., to refer to the pactum salutis,...
View ArticlePerkins On “The Exclusive Particle”
Throughout his works Perkins objected to the idea that one was justified by a mixed faith. On the contrary, faith was to be regarded as an instrument “to apprehend and apply that which justifies,...
View ArticlePerkins: As Soon As One Believes
For so soon as a man believes, he is presently justified. For every believer has... Continue reading →
View ArticleTrent Is Nature, Heidelberg Is Grace
We all naturally hold to the article of justification expressed in the Council of Trent, and so we need to be taught out of it by the Heidelberg Catechism. ©Inwoo Lee. All Rights Reserved. Resources...
View ArticleHeidelcast 219: Our Father (9): “Forgive Us Our Debts” (Plus Dr Clark Answers...
In this episode Dr Clark answers Heidelmail from Kwan about what Acts 2:42 and signs and wonders, from Exile1986 about how to answer a child’s question about why we cannot see Jesus right now, and from...
View ArticleRomans 5:9–10: You Were Justified And You Shall Be Saved Sola Gratia, Sola Fide
For many evangelicals and for some ostensibly Reformed folk it has been fashionable for the last several years to teach that we are justified now by grace alone (sola gratia), through faith alone (sola...
View ArticleHaldane: “Ungodly” In Romans 4:5 Means What It Says Just As “Works Not” Means...
Ver. 5. —But to him that worketh not, but we leave it on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. But to him that worketh not.—This is entirely misunderstood by Dr....
View ArticleOn Justification In Romans And Hebrews
One does not often think of Hebrews when it comes to the doctrine of justification—we normally go right to Paul’s writings. But Hebrews actually contains much teaching that contributes significantly to...
View ArticleTrent’s Knowing And Intentional Rejection Of Justification Sola Fide
After the theologians the bishops took the floor, song speaking for two or more hours at a time. Some were well-versed in the subject. Their approach, like that of the theologians, was generally framed...
View ArticleComing In December, 2022: Beza, Polanus, And Turretin On Justification
From its inception, the goal of the Classic Reformed Theology Series from Reformation Heritage Books (sponsor of the Heidelcast) has been to present, in English, primary source texts in Reformed...
View ArticlePiper’s New Book Is Edwardsian
The major—and expected—exception is Jonathan Edwards, whose view of faith no doubt stands behind Piper’s approach to this issue. Edwards believed that love is at the heart of faith: “That even faith,...
View ArticleUrsinus: True Faith, In The Act Of Justification, Is Not Formed By Affections...
Justifying faith is properly that which is defined in the catechism; according to which definition, the general nature of saving faith consists in knowledge and an assured confidence; for there can be...
View ArticleFaith Formed By Love Or Faith Alone? The Instrument Of Justification
In his discussion of works, Calvin anticipates the great error of many contemporary critics of the Reformation doctrine. They think that as long as they say that salvation is by grace alone they have...
View ArticleWarfield On Faith Contra The Edwardsian Definition
Kim Riddlebarger, who did his doctoral research on Warfield, has a nice set of quotations from him on the nature, character, and definition of faith in the act of justification. The Edwardsian tendency...
View ArticleA. A. Hodge: Contra Rome: The Protestants Say That Love Is The Fruit Of Faith
What are the different opinions as to the relation between faith and love? 1st. The Romanists, in order to maintain their doctrine that faith alone is not saving, distinguish between a formed, or...
View ArticleVos: All Our Works Are Excluded From Justification
Not only the works that we do in our own strength, or that we do before regeneration, or that we do without the merits of Christ, but all works, of whatever sort, are excluded from justification. This...
View Article“Edwards Injects Into Faith” In The Act Of Justification The Virtues Of The...
Edwards is very clear that faith does not justify a believer as a virtue or as forming any part of the righteousness which is the basis or ground of God’s judicial verdict. In this, he clearly stands...
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